I feel as if every time I post something on here its mostly for me, but I hope you find peace in it too.
In John chapter 11, a story is told of suffering, sorrow, grief, and joy. Mary, the one who loved Jesus so much for healing her from evil spirits, was with her brother Lazarus who was very sick. I picture Mary knowing in her heart what Jesus had done for her in the past, “surely, he will save my brother if I can just get him word.” Mary loved Jesus so much that she had at one time anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, but Jesus did not come, she waited and waited but Lazarus died. Do you think she was broken hearted when she found out Jesus knew and still left town? Do you think in her storm of life she questioned his love for her? They were friends, but he didn’t come. I wasn’t there, but I can easily say I don’t think I would have understood at all, to say in the least.
Mary and Martha had no doubt Jesus could heal Lazarus. They had witnessed firsthand his power. They loved Jesus with all they had, but their brother was so sick, and the master is nowhere to be found. I have felt like that before. I can be open enough to say, “Lord, why? Why, does my loved one suffer? Why, does it hurt so bad? How will this ever change?” When doubt comes in your life you can run to the goodness of God or allow it to grow until there is no peace in life to be found.
When Jesus comes back to the town of Bethany, he is greeted by a grieving Martha who said, “Lord, if you had only been here… but I still believe.” Mary had remained in her house, grief stricken over what she thought was lost. Martha went back to get her and said to Mary, “come with me the Lord is here and is asking for you.” A suffering and broken Mary ran to Jesus and fell on his feet. “Lord, if you had only been here my brother would not have died.”
Where is your “here?”
The place like Mary, you believed you were, and the Lord was not. The place where you believed there was no hope. Where in your suffering, you lost hope? I have some places of “here” in my life. Places I am not proud of, where I felt like David in Psalm 22: 14 “I am poured out like water.” I have felt hopeless...I just couldn’t understand how anything good could possibly come from my pain. This is where without the truth the battle of unbelief can be won or lost. The truth is since Genesis chapter 3 we have lived in a fallen and broken world where pain and suffering are real, where things happen that we just don’t understand, where it feels like the earth itself is falling out from under us. But there are some things for sure that we can stand on that are solid. You are not alone, never lost, never forgotten and your pain and suffering are not in vain. Every step you’ve taken the Father has walked with you, every tear that ran down your face that no one seen, God saw. As a child of God, the truth is, he is working all things for our sanctification and his glory. I once heard it told, God is doing about 10,000 things in our lives and we are possibly aware of about three.
Over and over in John chapter 11, Jesus says, “this is to bring glory to God.” Mary was unaware of what was about to come from her suffering and hopelessness. Mary did not know that her grief and pain would be the pivotal truth in our lives today. That even in our sorrow and grief God is working his perfect will. Mary did not know that Jesus knew exactly where she and her brother were. Not one second did he forget Lazarus. The purpose was to bring glory to the Father and that they would believe that Jesus IS the resurrection and life. So then he stood at the tomb and cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out…And Jesus said “Unbind him, and let him go.”
When we are discouraged, broken hearted from pain and suffering, and feel that we are all alone in our “here” take heart in knowing that even in the middle of whatever mess life has thrown at your way, Jesus is there with us and THERE IS HOPE...
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
